NORTHBROOK, IL — The Northfield Township Road District plans to spend $2 million on roadwork, facility improvements and flood-control projects during the coming fiscal year while operating under a reduced property tax levy.
The Road District Board of Trustees unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026-27 budget in June. The capital program allocates approximately $1 million for roadway improvements and another $1 million to modernize the district's operations facility at 237 Melvin Drive in Northbrook.
The Road District maintains about 23 miles of roads in unincorporated portions of Northfield Township, which encompasses most of Glenview and Northbrook and part of Northfield. Roads inside municipal boundaries are generally maintained by the respective villages.
The district is also planning stormwater and drainage work in the Northbrook West and Central Avenue areas of south Northfield Township, where residents have experienced repeated flooding during heavy rainfall, officials said.
Specific street segments and construction dates will be announced after contracts are awarded and seasonal paving schedules are finalized.
Planned roadwork includes hot-mix asphalt resurfacing, pavement preservation, crack sealing, pavement patching, drainage-structure adjustments, pavement markings, replacement signs and other safety improvements on streets maintained by the district.
Officials said the projects will target roads identified through a pavement-condition assessment as nearing the end of their useful lives.
Completing preservation work before roads deteriorate further can extend their lifespan and help avoid more expensive reconstruction, according to the district.
The second $1 million allocation will support improvements at the district’s Melvin Drive operations facility, which houses its public works crews, vehicles and equipment.
Potential projects include replacing the roof, upgrading electrical service, improving fire-alarm and life-safety systems and completing energy-efficiency work.
"One of the first steps we took was completing a comprehensive assessment of the District's facility to establish a baseline of building conditions, code-compliance gaps and required upgrades," Highway Commissioner Michael Korman said in a news release.
"By investing in infrastructure now, we can reduce deferred maintenance costs and ensure crews are equipped to respond to snow events, storms, and day-to-day road needs."
The Road District said it is developing projects intended to reduce localized flooding and improve drainage in the Northbrook West and Central Avenue areas.
Possible improvements include storm-sewer and culvert work, regrading ditches, improving water conveyance, replacing inlets and expanding detention or retention capacity.
The district said it will coordinate with other government agencies through intergovernmental agreements where appropriate.
It is also working with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on more than $53 million in regional stormwater-mitigation projects expected to be deployed over the next three years, according to the release.
Road District officials said those projects will directly benefit Northfield Township residents.
The capital program is included in a budget that reduces the Road District’s property tax levy by 4.6 percent.
Officials described it as the district’s first levy reduction in decades.
"This program maintains safe roads, prevents neighborhoods from flooding, and modernizes the road district facility — all within a reduced tax levy," Korman said.
"By lowering property taxes while continuing to invest in essential infrastructure, we are easing the burden on taxpayers and helping seniors and longtime residents remain in the community they helped build."
The Northfield Township Road District is an independent local government agency responsible for maintaining and improving district roads and related infrastructure. It operates its own crews and equipment under the direction of an elected highway commissioner.
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